Title: Closed loop fluid cooling system for marine outboard, inboard, and inboard-outboard motors.Abstract: A closed loop fluid cooling system for marine motors is described. The system includes a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets about a motor. The system includes a heat dissipation circuit. The motor cooling circuit is in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit. A cooling fluid variably circulates between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. A heat dissipation member is in fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit to receive the circulating cooling fluid, and the heat dissipation member is submerged in the body of water in which the boat is traveling to transfer heat from the cooling fluid to the body of water. A temperature control valve is in fluidic communication with the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. The temperature control valve variably connects the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit in response to a temperature of the cooling fluid or the motor to provide for the circulation of the cooling fluid between the motor cooling circuit and the heat dissipation circuit. ...

BACKGROUND

Most marine outboard, inboard, and inboard-outboard propulsion motors utilize a raw water-cooling system. Raw lake or sea water is drawn into the motor by a water pump or the movement of the boat to provide an active cooling process for the motor. The water is circulated through fluid cooling jackets of the motor in order to cool the motor, and the water is returned to the lake to dissipate the heat generated by the internal combustion occurring within the motor.

At the propulsion end or lower unit, marine motors generally incorporate an oil-filled gearbox containing gears that provide rotation for the propeller to provide propulsion for the boat. The gearbox operates while submerged in lake water. The propulsion end or lower unit generally includes an intake to supply cool water for “actively” cooling the engine. The water enters the intake, passes up through the lower unit, and about the engine's cooling jackets in order to cool the engine.

These conventional marine motor cooling systems are unable to regulate or control how much heat is dissipated from the motor. Consequently, in many (if not most) situations, the motor is being operated at a temperature below the optimum operating temperature of the motor. The active cooling is especially detrimental for the performance and operation of the motor during warm-up, a time when cooling should be halted.

Additionally, water within the fluid cooling jackets of a marine motor has an undesirable destructive effect on the motor. Water causes rust, scaling, corrosion, metal degradation by electrolysis, and fracture by freezing. These problems are amplified when the motor is operated in salt water. Operators are also bothered with draining these water-cooling systems to prevent damage from ice if the motor is stored or transported in freezing climates. Generally, many motors, especially the inboard-outboard motors, require the operator to winterize their motor by draining all the water from the cooling system. Salt water systems have to be regularly flushed with fresh water.

A new problem related to marine water-cooling systems has recently came into focus. Recreational boats unintentionally transport and spread unwanted invasive species throughout our country's lakes and rivers. Zebra muscles or other invasive species may be drawn into the cooling system and then migrate to another body of water by traveling in the residual cooling system water in the boat motor.

SUMMARY

A closed loop cooling system is described herein. The closed loop cooling system reduces destruction to a marine motor caused by water with a conventional cooling system by replacing or converting the conventional cooling system to a closed fluid cooling system, which is filled with a cooling fluid, such as oil, (or other “metal friendly” cooling fluid) instead of raw lake or sea water.

The closed loop cooling system provides a quick warm-up of the internal combustion motor. The closed loop cooling system also elevates the operating temperature of oil in a gearbox of the motor, and resultantly, reduces the drag (power loss) of the gearbox and the motor drive train.

The closed loop cooling system maintains a predetermined optimum operating temperature of the motor through all conditions and situations.

The closed loop cooling system provided a closed system, which eliminates the need to drain, flush, or winterize the marine motor.

The closed loop cooling system overcomes the need for a on-board, manually-cleaned sea strainer to prevent the fouling of conventional cooling systems with seaweed, debris, fish, trash, etc. These strainers are often neglected, which can cause unwanted catastrophic failure of the marine motor.

The closed loop cooling system improves on the cooling systems of conventional outboards, which often use an impeller of a plastic/rubber material. Over time, the lake or sea water brought into the cooling system of the conventional outboard will cause the impeller to break-down, possibly resulting in engine failure. The impeller is especially susceptible to degradation from abrasion by sand in the water drawn into the cooling system in shallow water operation.

The closed loop cooling system provides a closed system, which eliminates the possibility of transporting invasive species and contaminating uninfected lakes and rivers by not taking raw water into the motor, or boat and storing it during transportation of the boat.

Overall, the closed loop cooling system improves the performance of a marine motors, as can be measured as an improvement in power, responsiveness, fuel efficiency, reduction of exhaust emissions, and overall engine life.

Overall, the closed loop cooling system provides a marine motor with an engineered level of immunity to the destructive forces of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1(a) is a schematic representation of the closed loop cooling system in the heat preservation mode.

FIG. 1(b) is a schematic representation of the closed loop cooling system in the heat dissipation mode.

FIG. 2 is a view of the outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid in common with the gearbox in the heat preservation mode.

FIG. 3 is a view of the outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid in common with the gearbox in the heat dissipation mode.

FIG. 4 is a view of the outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid independent of the gearbox in the heat preservation mode.

FIG. 5 is a view of the outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid independent of the gearbox with the cooling fluid passing through the directional control skeg in the heat dissipation mode.

FIG. 6 is a view of the inboard-outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid in common with the gearbox in the heat preservation mode.

FIG. 7 is a view of the inboard-outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid in common with the gearbox in the heat dissipation mode.

FIG. 8 is a view of the inboard-outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid independent of the gearbox and passing through the directional control skeg in the heat preservation mode.

FIG. 9 is a view the inboard-outboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid independent of the gearbox and passing through the directional control skeg in the heat dissipation mode.

FIG. 10 is a view of the inboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid passing through the hull fin in the heat preservation mode.

FIG. 11 is a view the inboard motor incorporating the closed loop cooling system with the cooling fluid passing through the hull fin in the heat dissipation mode.

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20090924|20090235877|closed loop fluid cooling system for marine outboard, inboard, and inboard-outboard motors|A closed loop fluid cooling system for marine motors is described. The system includes a motor cooling circuit in fluidic communication with fluid cooling jackets about a motor. The system includes a heat dissipation circuit. The motor cooling circuit is in closed fluidic communication with the heat dissipation circuit. A |